3 Democrats vie to be nominee for county treasurer

LAS CRUCES – Three candidates will face off June 7 in the primary election to become the Democratic nominee for Doña Ana County treasurer.

The candidates are Eric L. Rodriguez, Shannon D. Reynolds and Eugenia “Gina” Montoya Ortega. The winner of the primary with go head-to-head against Republican Jill A. Johnson in the general election on Nov. 8.

The four candidates are running to replace current County Treasurer David Gutierrez, whose final term in office has been ensnared in a scandal that stemmed from allegations that he repeatedly sexually harassed a woman in his office in 2014 and later solicited sex from the woman by offering to pay her $2,000 to “spend a couple of hours with him in a hotel.”

Rodriguez currently serves as Gutierrez’s chief deputy treasurer, a position he has held since January.

“Currently, Mr. Gutierrez would not even be a viable option for chief deputy treasurer,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez, a native of eastern New Mexico, has lived in Doña Ana County for 15 years, he said. He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from New Mexico State University. He is also in the process of pursuing an MBA from New Mexico Highlands University. Before joining the Treasurer’s Office in January, he worked in banking for the past 10 years, he said.

He said he would maintain continuity in the office if elected in November.

“What I’m doing right now is learning the office and its processes and making sure we’re able to make smooth transition next year,” he said.

Ortega, meanwhile, said she want to restore the “dignity, integrity and pride” of the office and the county at large.

Alluding to Gutierrez’s scandal, Ortega said “it’s very disgusting” and “very embarrassing.”

“I think it’s time for a change. I think it’s time for some new people, for new ideas and new blood,” she said.

Ortega, a native of Las Cruces, is the co-owner of La Fiesta Bakery, which she said she has operated for 10 years with her husband. She said she also has more than 30 years of experience in other fields, such as retail and human resources. She has an associate's degree in business office technology and bookkeeping. Last year, she ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Las Cruces.

Ortega acknowledged that her background in banking is limited, but she pledged to work with current employees in the office to get “insight” in order to manage the office.

“I wanted to actually sit with the people and see what they see and what they know,” she said. “There’s a lot of employees that know a lot … but nobody ever asks them: How can we do things? Or how can we can make things better.”

Like Ortega, Reynolds wants to see change in the Treasurer’s Office. The Kentucky native said his “industry experience” makes him the ideal candidate to bring to the office.

“I believe I bring 40 years of industry experience,” he said, adding that he has done consulting work for several companies over the past 10 years.

Reynolds, who has a degree in engineering from the University of Illinois, is a Vietnam-era veteran and served for a number of years as a financial specialist in the U.S. Air Force.

He also has previous experience as an elected official, having served as a city councilman in Milford, Ohio. His public service record also includes volunteering and teaching work.

He is now semiretired, he said, in large part because of “sound investments” he made.